Quads and trucks large and small took to the mud pit at the Mud Sling event sponsored by T.E. Promotions Saturday, July 18, ending the grandstand events at the 2009 Scott County Fair.
First up, the four wheel drive quad drivers took their shot at the mud. Drivers took their rides down the pit spraying mud and water from their tires. Participants Richard Cooper, Donnie Wheeler, Tim Brown, Brad Crick, Ethan Barton, Shown Auxier, Matthew Gullett and Michael Payton took two runs through the pit trying for a time that would take them to the top of the leader's board. In the end, Donnie Wheeler took the win with a time of 6.14 seconds through the pit, and Gullett placed second with a time of 6.61 seconds.
In the second division of the evening, two wheel drive quad drivers took their chances in the muck. Richard Cooper, Ryan Riley, Donnie Wheeler, Ryan Hobbs, Levi Panguburn, Shawn Wilson, Shawn Auxier, Jason Blevins, Michael Payton and Travis Jett revved up their engines and navigated their way through. Donnie Wheeler rode his way to the win with a time of 7.45 seconds through the pit. Cooper followed in second with a time of 8.05 seconds.
The third run of the night belonged to the Mini-Quad division. Dylan Collin and Wyatt Wheeler rode through a smaller strip of dirt and water. The youngsters took two rides through the pit, just as the adult riders did. Wyatt Wheeler drove through the pit with the best time of 4.67 seconds, and Dylan Collin drove through the pit with the best time of 8.19 seconds.
Taking to the mud pit next were the County Class Trucks. Drivers Zach Vandergriff, Donivan Randall, Nolan Smith, Greg Duke, Jonathan Abbott, David Lugo, William Butler, Kevin Hall, Daniel Hall and Nathan Meagher sprayed mud through the air as they ran down the pit. In the end, Butler took first place in the class with a time of 3.85 seconds. Lugo placed second with a time of 4.06 seconds.
The Class 1 four and six cylinder trucks took the trip down the muddy pit next. Thomas McCormick, Leroy Davis, Bryan Ellison, Steve Morgan, Jeremy Snell, Steven Heath, Kyle Waldridge, Matt Bush, Joe Austin, Chad Crady, Tony Manning and Shawn Cooley took two runs through the mud for their best time. Bush placed first with a time of 4.01 seconds, and Crady placed second with a time of 4.21 seconds.
Robert Huchinson, Jr., Jeff Smith, Chris Sandlin, Matt Bush, Billy Harp, Chad Ehlers and Robert Hutchinson, Sr. ran in the Class 2 Modified division. Robert Hutchinson, Jr. took first with a time of 3.86 seconds, and Smith placed a close second with a time of 3.88 seconds through the pit.
Rail buggies were up next. Scott McQuery, Michael Mann and Rick Ritchison took their chances in the mud. McQuery took first place with a time of 3.85 seconds. Ritchison placed second with a time of 4.79 seconds.
Two drivers participated in the Class 3 Open Two Wheel Drive division. Chris Sandlin placed first in the division with a best run of 4.90 seconds. Cameron Hay took second with a run of 10.12 seconds.
The largest class of the night running the pit was the Class 4 Street Stock division. The 25 drivers took two runs through the pit. Zach Vandergriff, Michael Simpson, Larry Graham, Donivan Randall, Michael Decker, David Bagshaw, Craig Dwiggins, Tom Boaz, Trivis Uebel, Larry Church, Evan Noggle, Zach Riley, J.C. Campton, Todd Sharpenstieen, Jimmy Geyman, Jimmy Whitten, Chris Jones, Barry Durbin, Katrina Albertson, John Smith, Gene Evans, Kurt Gott, Ben Carpenter, Nicholas Blackman and Nick Bailey revved up their engines and took off through the mud racing for the best time of the division. Albertson placed first in the division with a time of 2.74 seconds. Evans took second with a time of 2.80 seconds, and Dwiggins placed a close third with a time of 2.81 seconds.
The Class 5 Pro Stock roared through the pit, leaving mud splatters and smoke in their wake. Keith Cox, David Bagshaw, Andrew Dancer, Eric Osborne, Travis Uebel, Elijah Cress, Dustin Mollet, Chris Lewis, Eric Shoults, Terrill Schuler, Tim Baird, Tony Evans, Michael Richardson, Chip McMann, Donald Brown, Tyler Tutted and Justin Young ran through the rutted pit. In first place, Evans had a time of 2.52 seconds. Shoults took second with a time of 3.10 seconds.
Taking their shot at the pit, Doug Howell, Mark Davis, Kelly Albertson, Tim Baird and Joe Barmore raced through the mud. Albertson placed first with a time of 2.68 seconds. Barmore took a close second with 2.71 seconds.
The Class 7 Pro Stock took their shot through the rough pit. Bryan Osborne, George Scott, Eric Davis, Tom Johnson, Kelly Albertson, Eddie Newby, Rob Ford and Alan Herthel came up to the start line and gave it their all to the end. First place went to Johnson with a time of 2.56 seconds, and Ford followed in a close second with a time of 2.57 seconds.
The last class of the night was the Class 8 Open division. Giving it their best shot, drivers Brandon Fuller, Jeff Smith, Damon Day and Bill McQuery ended the event. Smith took home the first place trophy with a time of 2.43 seconds. McQuery placed second with a time of 2.88 seconds.